active example of the Dalmatian mason, built houses, made gardens, and said their prayers.

Such were the primary elements of that free and tranquil society which, founded on arduous industry and moral probity, has maintained itself unchanged through a series of thirteen centuries, while mightier empires and more magnificent republics have fallen around it and such the commencement of that republic, which, however diminutive its territory, and limited its means and population, has proved, in the virtue, simplicity, and happiness of its people, the powerful influence of institutions founded on the true interests and unalienable rights of humanity.

The city of San Marino (for the memory of the mason's virtues procured his apotheosis) crowns its isolated rock, in the heart of the papal territory, calling itself a free state, and enjoying all the benefits of a free government, with liberty inscribed above the gates of its little capital, and the portals of its cathedral. It is at once a miracle, and an anomaly in the order of things. The wars of Italy raged from century to century at its base; but the Guelphs and the Ghibellines left it undisturbed as they passed under its summit; the Condottieri and Masnadieri rarely scaled its cliffs; or if the necessities of warfare sometimes brought the armed slaves and powerful tyrants of feudality to the heights of San Marino, still it is remarkable that its rights were held sacred-not excepting that right which powerful sovereigns so often violate in their contests with each other--the right of nations to choose their own government.

When the commander-in-chief of the army of Italy marched a conqueror into Romagna, catching a view in the distance of a high bare rock, lighted

by the sunshine-a landmark in the immensity of space! he demanded its name. He was answered, "It was San Marino!" Buonaparte halted, and gazing on the rude site, where, for thirteen hundred years liberty had found refuge amidst barren rocks -he who had warred upon all the despotisms of Europe, and was soon to lay them prostrate before his own, resolved to respect a republic, whose example, bright but uninfluencial, through successive ages, appeared little more than a beautiful abstraction! It was a fact still more singular, that Napoleon, who passed not in Italy the confines of Romagna, and refused to visit Rome, resolved to visit San Marino, and to visit it in the name of that great nation (for it was then great), which apparently was hastening on to universal empire! In the meantime, while the exigencies of his peculiar situation detained the general-in-chief at Pesaro, the head quarters of the army in Italy, in his impatience to testify the respect for the republic, and even to obtain the suffrages of its worthy citizens, he wrote to its government, both by Berthier and with his own hand; and as a flattering compliment to the intellect of the people, he sent them, in the name of the French republic, a deputation, headed by the celebrated Monge, of the national institute, and of the commission of the arts and sciences in Italy. As the notes which passed between Buonaparte and the republic of San Marino are too carious and too characteristic of the style and manner of the first and best days of the French revolution, to be passed over in silence, we make no apology for here inserting them:

ARMY OF ITALY.

General Staff.

Head Quarters, Pesaro, 19th Pluviose, year V. of the French republic, one and indivisible.

The General of Division, Chief of the Staff.

General Buonaparte, commander-in-chief, deputes Citizen Monge, commissary of the French government for the arts and sciences, to the republic of San Marino, to give assurances of the fraternity and friendship of the French republic.

(Signed)

ALEX. BERThier.

Address delivered on the Part of the General-inChief, &c. &c. to the Republic of San Marino.

LIBERTY, which, in the glorious days of Athens and Thebes, transformed the Greeks into a nation of heroes, which in the ages of the republic made the Romans perform prodigies; which, during the brief interval of her reign in a few towns of Italy, revived the arts and sciences, and shed a lustre over Florence; was almost entirely banished from Europe:-Liberty existed only at San Marino, where, citizens, by the wisdom of your government, and particularly by your virtues, you have preserved that inestimable treasure through numerous revolutions, and have defended the sacred deposit during a long succession of years. The French people, enlightened by an age of knowledge, blushing for their long slavery, have made an effort, and are free. All Europe, blind to its own interests, still more blind to the interests of human nature, has leagued and

taken up arms against France. Her neighbours are concerting together respecting the division of her territory, and on every side her frontiers are already invaded, and her fortresses and ports in the power of the enemy; but what is most lamentable, a valuable portion of her own people are kindling civil war, and are striking blows, the whole weight of which must fall upon their common country.

Alone amidst this great storm, without experience, without arms, without chiefs, the French people fly to the frontiers, everywhere present an undaunted resistance, and are speedily triumphant.

The most prudent of the enemies of France withdrew from the coalition; her victories successively obliged others to implore that peace which they obtained. Finally, her enemies are reduced to three in number:-but these are led away by their passions, and will listen only to the dictates of pride, jealousy, and hatred. A French army, annihilated, one after the other, four Austrian armies, is restoring liberty to that fine country, and before your eyes, is crowning itself with immortal glory.

The French republic, beholding with regret this effusion of blood, and content with having set a great example to the universe, proposed a peace, when it might have dictated its own terms.

Would you believe it, citizens? these propositions have everywhere been rejected with pride, or evaded by artifice.

The army of Italy, therefore, in order to obtain tranquillity, is compelled, in pursuing its enemies, to pass near your territory.

I come from General Buonaparte, in the name of the French republic, to give assurance to the ancient

republic of San Marino, of peace and an inviolable friendship.

Citizens, the political constitution of the nations which surround you may undergo some changes. If any part of your frontiers should be the subject of dispute, or even if any uncontested portion of the neighbouring states should be absolutely necessary to you, I am charged by the general-in-chief, to beg that you will inform him thereof. He will feel infinite pleasure in enabling the French republic to give you proofs of its sincere friendship. For my own part, citizens, I rejoice in being employed on a mission, which must be agreeable to both republics, and which affords me an opportunity of expressing the veneration with which you inspire all friends of liberty,

(Signed)

MONGE,

Member of the Institute.

San Marino, 19th Pluviose, year V. of the
French Republic, one and indivisible.

Buonaparte, General-in-Chief, &c. &c. To the Representatives of the Republic of San Marino.

Citizen Monge has described to me, citizens, the interesting picture which your little republic presents, and I have given orders that the citizens of San Marino may be exempt from contributions, and respected in whatever part of the states of the French republic they may happen to be. I shall give orders to General Sahuguet, who has his headquarters at Rimini, to transmit to you four pieces of field cannon, which I present to you in the name of